Stand on any driving range and you will witness an oddly recurring event: golfers moving their legs right to left, front to back and in all directions in between as they swing, in a bid to generate more power. Trust me, I have seen this phenomenon in all levels of golfers, from seasoned hackers right up to single handicappers.

Obviously we all want to hit the ball a few yards longer. But while trying to generate more power, most golfers because they lack proper technique, 'sway' their legs to put more punch into their swing. When you move your legs as you take your backswing, you lose your centre of gravity. The result-a loss of 30-70 yards on your drives! Even though you swing the clubs with your hands, the role that your legs play is equally vital.

This week I want to give you some tips on controlling your legs so you can both generate more power and stay connected to the swing. When swinging correctly, you should be able to use your legs as pivots, right leg on the backswing and left leg on the downswing. As you turn your upper torso and hips, the legs should load up the power and keep the swing intact. Remember, you will only be able to generate power if your legs work as pivots.

So, how to keep your legs quiet?
Drill 1 - Kneel on the ground and take a practice swing. Feel the turn of your shoulders and hips. Get in tune with this sensation and build it into your real swings.

Drill 2 - Practice your swing standing with a pole two inches away from your right thigh and make sure that you don't touch it during the backswing. This will help you to develop tremendous balance and generate more speed on the downswing. Do the similar exercise on the downswing and follow-through. This will help you maintain the correct body angle and suddenly you will find your ball flying straighter and longer down the line.

I have successfully refined my golf swing focusing heavily on these drills, as have a lot of my students. So don't wait-visit the practice range to hit a few hundred balls keeping the above advice in mind and see the improvement! l

Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Golf Director at Le Meridien Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu. [email protected]